A strain of flu called the “Swiss strain” has taken doctors in Taiwan and Hong Kong by surprise. Hong Kong, in particular, has been battling a peak in flu cases, which left nearly a hundred people dead in just one short month.
Analysts say that the outbreak in Hong Kong is partially due to a low rate of vaccination. Also, the World Health Organization mistakenly predicted that the most common type of flu in the northern hemisphere this season would be the “German strain” of H3N2. But the “Swiss strain” has proven far more common. That means flu vaccinations that offer protection from the “German strain” are virtually useless.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control say that the Swiss strain which is at the heart of the serious outbreak in Hong Kong has recently shot up from 27% to 37.5% of the total cases. They say that the peak flu season is likely to occur after the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays end in late February.